Corn-harvester



(No Model.) 5 S heets'Sheet 2.

J. I. WOLF.

CORN HARVESTER.

No. 335,170. Patented" Feb. 2, 1886.

Fig. 2. y 3 B v El N. PETERS, moto-Lima m ner, wmhm mn. D Q

(No'Mo'deL) 5.Sheet's-Sheet 3.

J. I. WOLF. CORN HARVESTER.

Patented Feb. 2, 1886.

(No Model.) 5 ShetsSheet 4.

4 J. 1. WOLF. CORN HARVESTBR.

No. 335,170. Patented Feb. 2.1886.

Jli'esi. Illklli 01 4% mm gf/w (14 J. 1. WOLF. 001m HARVESTER.

No. 335,170. Patented Feb. 2. 1886.

5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

JOHN I. \VOLF, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.

CORN -HARVESTER.

.EPEGIFI'GATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 333.170, dated February 2, 1886.

Application filed June 11, 1884.

To all whom it 11mg concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN I. XVOLF, a citizen of the'United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Clark and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Corn-Harvesters; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in corn-harvesters.

My invention relates to that class of cornharvcsters in which a shocker is combined with the cutting apparatus.

The machine is mounted upon tractionwheels having a train of gearing connected therewith,and the corn is cut by rotary knives driven by chain gearing, the corn being carried from the front to the rear of the machine by endless chains having a series of toothed carriers attached to them and dropped horizontally into a shock-holder consisting of two frame-sections hinged at their outer ends and connected detachahly at their inner ends, and when a sufficient quantity of corn is therein deposited it is clamped and bound, and the shock rotated to a perpendicular position with the ground surface, when it is dropped to the ground, the holding and clamping devices being instantaneously released at the same time and the shock left standing, the corn being cut and deposited in the shock-holder from two rows at a time. As themachine advances, the ground is cleared for a considerable dis tance, and the rows of shocks are placed as wide as possible apart. 7

The machine can be used to out either two rows or but one, and for the former purpose two sets of cutting and conveying apparatus are used, and the driving-gear is arranged to throw one or both of these sets into operation, as may he required.

Figure 1. is a side elevation of my improved corn-harvester and shocker, the dotted lines of the latter showing its movement when operating. Fig. 2 is a rear view of the machine with the shock-holder in position for receiving Serial No. 134,599. (No model.)

the corn from the carriers, enlarged. Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the shock-turner on the left hand side of the machine for rotating the shock and forspooling the chain used in clamp ing the latter. Fig. rt is a vertical section through the same on line 1 1 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a top view of the machine, the elevating devices on the right-hand side and the shocker being omitted. Fig. 6 is a top view of one of the guideways, with a detail showing an end view of one of the rails and brace, and the reel-shaft connection with the latter from the front. Fig. 7 is a side View of the front truck with its connections, including the drivers seat, and the hand-lever for raising and low ering the cut and for tilting the frame. Fig. 8 is a vertical cross-section through the bed-frame or coupling-rails, a vertical longi tudinal section through the shaft on which the hand-lever is pivoted, and a vertical section through the attachments of the same. Fig. 9 is a detail of the l'lttndl6V61'2111d the rack-wheel attached to the hollow shaft by which the lat ter is rotated in raising and lowering the frame. Fig. 10 is a side view of the devices by which the pivoted frame is suspended, embracing a portion of the frame to show the connection of said devices therewith. Fig. 11 is a side elevation of the frontend of the inovableframe to which the knives are attached, and shows the chain gear connection with the latter. Fig. 12 is a cross-section through the same, with the case which covers the gearing broken away to show the latter and its connection with the shaft of the knives. Fig. 13 is a top view of one of the guideways, through which the corn is brought to the knives and severed by the latter as the machine advances. In this View the position of the knives on the right hand of the machine is shown, with the gearing connected therewith. Fig. 14 is an enlarged top View of the rotary and stationary knives in their operative position. Fig. 15 is a cross-section through line 00 of the same, Fig. 14. Fig. 16 is an enlarged view of the two pipe-bars, which, when connected, as shown in Fig. 2, form the lower angle of the shockholder. Fig. 17 is a perspective view of the sleevesection of the catch, by which the two bars shown in Fig. 16 are held together when connected. Fig. 18 is a view of the male sec tion of the same. Fig. 19 is a view of thi spring-lateh, to which the end of the bindingchain is attached. Fig. is an enlarged view of a part of one of the carriers by which the corn is elevated and carried to the rear of the machine. It also shows the manner of connecting the chain thereto.

A is the corn-harvester, which consists, in part, of the horizontal bed-rails or stationary part I, extending from end to end of the machine, and supported at the frontby a pair of truck-wheels, B, and at the rear by the wheels B and axle w, which latter is pivoted in bearings on the underside ofthe rails I. The frame proper of the harvester, which carries the cutting apparatus and the devices for elevating and depositing the cut corn in the shocker, is of nearly triangular shape in side elevation, its front end terminating in an angle low down, while the rear part of the machine is considerably elevated, as will be seen by reference to Fig. 1. It is adapted to be raised and lowered, as well as to be tilted, so as to cut corn at different heights.

The machine-is designed to out two rows of corn at a time and deposit the corn in the shock-holder, but is also adapted to cut sin gle rows when required. It is provided with twosets of cutting and elevating apparatus, one of which can at any time be used independently of the other. These are supported one on each side of the two long bed-rails I, which extend from the axle far enough forward in the central longitudinal line of the machine to allow the truck B to clear the endsof the guideway-rails in turning, and to facilitate the handling of the machine in cuttting one or two rows. The entire movable frame with its attachments is supported by means of the engagement of the teeth of the rack w with those of the pinion w, (seen in Fig. 1 and more clearly in Fig. 10,) and which will be described hereinafter.

The traction or main drive-wheels B are placed at the rear of the frame in order to more evenly balance the machine when the.

shock is suspended at the rear of the same. Each of the drive-wheels B drives the set of knives, carriers, and spirals on its own side through a train of gears, H, consisting of a large spur-wheel,f, which is bolted to the inside of the hub of wheel B and is concentrie therewith. This drives the pinion fon the outer end of a short transverse shaft, 6 which latter is pivoted in bearings on the rear uprights of the frame, and lies behind and parallel with the axle in a plane above the latter. The pinionfslides on a spline of the shaft 0 in throwing it into and out of gear with the spur-wheelf. The inner end of shaft 6 has a sprocket-wheel, e, thereon, and it is connected with a sprocket-wheel, e on the shaft 6 directly above, by a chain-belt, c. This latter shaft has also on the inside of the chute E sprocket-wheels carrying the chain belts e of the carriers 6, and driving the short shaft 11 at the foot end of the chute. This latter shaft is pivoted in bearings on the rails b and 11 of each guideway, and has a sprocket-wheel, d", at each end, with which the chain-belts e engage. From the shaft d the power is transmitted to the short shaft 01 and bevel-gear d, which drives the vertical shaft 00 on which the disk a and knives a a are fastened atthe extreme lower end of said shaft a just below the rail b, as seen in Figs. 1, 5,11, 12. and 13. A. short chain belt, (1, connects the shaft d with the shaft (7, which drives the knifeshaft a On the extreme end of the shaft 6 which extends across the top of the chute '13 outside of the side boards of the latter, is a bevelwheel, g, which engages another on the end of theinclined shaft h. This lattershaft is coupled at the forward end on each side of the chute with the rear end of the shaft 2' of the spiral D by a universal coupling, 71 thus operating the spirals simultaneously with knives and carriers by the same system of drive-chains and sprocket-wheels.

The lower horizontal frame-bars, If and b, which form the inner and outer rails of the guideways C, respectively, are under the axle, and a considerable space is left between the outer bar, If, and the inclined bar b above it, through which space the axle 20 extends to allow the wholeframc with its devices to be raised or lowered to any desired height in operating the machine, as seen in Fig. 10, in which the dotted lines show the frame lowered. The means for this adjustment will be described hereinafter.

The cutting apparatus consists, first, of a pair of segmental knives, a, each let into re-.

cesses equal in depth to the thickness of the knives in the disk a, so that the top surface of the knife-blades t shall be flush with that of the disk. The disk is securely fastened on the lower end of a short vertical shaft, a", in a sleeve, a", cast in one piece with a case covering the bevel-gears by which the rotary knives are driven. A portion of the case is broken away to show the construction in Fig. 12. The gear-wheels are by means of the case protectedv from obstructions such as blades, stalks, or dirtduring the operation of the machine.

The outer or cutting edges of the rotaryknives a a are eccentric to the orbit of the disk, the peripheral line of the same beginning at a point at the forward angle, a about three-fourths of an inch from the edge of disk a, and ending at a point about two and threequarters inches from the latter, being proximately tangential thereto. The corner or angle a is rounded and the blade beveled from the under side, so that it enters the stalks eas ily without breaking them. The stalks are caught and severed between the rotary blades a a and a long fiat blade, I), which is stationary, being bolted securely at each end across the top of disk at in rear of its center, with its lower surface as nearly in contact with knives a a as possible without touching them.

Its front or cutting edge is beveled on top and is slightly curved near the outer end. As seen by reference to Fig. 13, it is fastened to the inner guideway-bar, b, and extends obliquely forward toward the opposite bar 1/ at at an angle of about forty-five degrees. An angular bracket, 0, is bolted to bar I), and the rear end of knife I) is dovetailed therein, as seen in Fig. 15, and fastened byabolt. The opposite end of the knife is bolted 011 its rear edge to an arm, I), which latter extends from a crossbar, I), in rear of the knives, across the guide way. This arm forms a brace in the plane of the knives, as well as a support for the knife I). As the knives a a revolve, their cuttingedges pass that of knife b throughout the outer one-third of its length, giving a shear as well as rotary out by the movement.

To insure the passage of stalks to the knives, a flat guide-bar, If, is bolted to rail b extends rearward in line with knife I), its extreme end lapping onto the point of the latter on the front edge. The cornstalks, as each row is straddled by the guideways O, are cut and fall between the spirals D onto the carriers e, and are elevated to the rear of the machine and dropped into the shock-holder. (Seen suspended at the rear end of the latter in Figs. 1 and 2.) The chute E and the spirals D are inclined, so as to form an angle with the bedrails of the frame, and the shock-holder is pivoted high enough to allow it to rotate the shock, the butts of the corn being about one and a half foot from the ground when the shock is thrown up, ready to drop. The spirals D are long flat rods in, bent spirally overashaft, i, and attached thereto by spokes i. Each end of rod 7c is bent inward and fastened to the shaft. The convolutions are about eighteen inches in diameter and nearly the same distance apart. Shaft i is pivoted at the front end, in the top of an angular brace, i, at the front of eace guideway-bar, and its rear end is coupled to gearshai't it by a universal coupling. The cutting apparatus and elevating devices are supported upon the movable frame B, the rear end of which is in form of a buttboard for the shock.

The inclined rails Z) project in rear of the frame, under boards L, to the ends of which are pivoted, one on each side, the shock-turn ers G and G, (seen in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4,) and to these the two sections F and F of the shock-holder F are pivoted. The shockholder sections are quadrangular in shape, and are constructed of straight rods m m, with ring ends, which clamp pipe-bars forming the upper and lower ends of each section. The upper pipe bars, 0, are pivoted about their middles in ring ends (1 q of each of the shock-turners G and G, and the sections hangloosely therein, so that when the two sections are disconnected they will each swing outward. The lower pipe-bars, a and a, are provided with connecting and disconnecting devices. One of these bars has hooks 2 3,

which enter openings at in sleeve-pieces a on the opposite bar, and these hooks are held by springlatches a, extending in opposite directions along the bar a, and are operated by springs 7 within the pipe-bar. (See Fig. 16.) The spring-latches. a have their inner ends connected by pivoted rods a to a Tshaped head on one end of a short crank-lever, a", which extendsdiametrically through the pipebar a, and which, when partially rotated, disengages latches a from the books 2 3 of the ring-pieces a on the opposite bar, and the two sections fall apart, as before stated. pare the shock holder for receiving the cut corn, the two bars a and n of sections F and F are connected together, as seen in Fig. 2, and in the enlarged detail, Fig. 16, the latches engagingthehooksautomatically. Theclamping devices consist of a chain, m on section F, which is attached by one end to spool r of the shock-turner. G on that side, and extends over a small pulley, O, on the end of bar 0, thence down the section and around a small pulley, m, )ivoted in the fork of the outer bar, in, of section F, thence on the outside of a bar, in, pivoted by its lower endto the same fork, and through a loop, in", on the upper end of this bar. After passing through loop m the end of chain in is caught by a right angled hook, n, of the opposite section. This hook is pivoted at its angle between ears 1) at the top end of bar 1'), the latter being attached to the middle of a short cylindrical bar, as seen in the detail N of Fig. 2. A spring-wire, about one-fourth of an inch in diameter, 29. extends through a hole near the middle of bar 11", each end being extended back and a turn taken around the ends of bars p, p", and p, consecutively, and secured to each end of the latter near the lower end of section F. The object of this wire to connect the hook p with the short cylindrical bars p, p", and p, and to form a reactionary spring-frame to cause the hook and the chain p, (seen connected to the loop-armp ot' the former,) when disengaged, to be thrown back onto section F The loop-arm p" of hook p extends at right angles from the latter and lies on the outside of the bar 1). The chain 12, Connected thereto, extends down to the lower end of the section, and is connected with the arm j of a rotating spring-latclnj, pivoted on the bar a near its outer end, as seen in Figs. 2 and in Figs. 16 and 19.

The shock-turners G and G are each made of two flat quadrantshaped frame-s, g and g", pivoted on the outer and inner ends of a shaft, 1-, outside of the two supports it t, on each side of the end ofbar b, as seen in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4. The one on the lefthand side of the machine has a spool. ordrum, 1', but G, on the right of the machine, has none. The outer frame, has its arms q (1 curved laterally inward toward g and their ends lap onto the ends of the arms of the latter (which are straight) and are fastened thereto near the rings (1 q". On the outer end of shalt 9 is a fixed ratchet'wheel, 0' and between this and the ratchetwheel u is piv- To preoted loosely a hand-lever, 1;. (See Figs. 3and 4.) The teeth of ratchet-wheel 1' extend in one direction, and the teeth of the loose ratchet-wheel 11. extend in the opposite direction. Ratchet-wheel u is in one piece with the sprocket-wheel u. The hand-lever v has two loose pawls pivoted one upon each side, and as it is turned upward the outer pawl, o, engages with ratchet-wheel r and turns shaft 0' and drum 1", winding up chain m on the drum 7*, and the hook p and its spring-frame are drawn to the center over the top of the shock, as seen in dotted lines, Fig. 2, after which the shock is tied above the clamp by a cord or wire. The pawl 1' (seen pivoted to bar t, Fig. 3,) holds the shaft r from turning, when the shock is compressed, by its engagement with the teeth of the inside ratchet-wheel, T, which is rigidly attached to shaftr. After the operation of compressing and tying the shock, the latter is partially rotated until brought into a perpendicular position by turning handlever v in the opposite direction. In this operation pawl 11 becomes disengaged and drops down, as seen in Fig. 4, and pawl 11 now engages the teeth of ratchet-wheel u, turning sprocket-wheel a, which, by means of the connection of chain 8, turns the large sprocket-wheel a on the end of shaft 20 By reference to Fig. 1 it will be noticed that a long lever, 11., is pivoted at its front end in the rim of wheel o (or on a pin on the latter,) and extends back to the top of arms 8 on the shock-turner G. At this point lever u forks, as seen in the top View, Fig. 3, and is pivoted to the top ends of the two converging arms or braces s 8, both of which can be seen in this figure. From the ends of arms ssa rod-brace, 8, leads down to the rear end of arm q". Now, as sprocket-wheel a is rotated from right to left, shock-turner G is elevated by means of lever u, and at the same time the shock-turner G on the opposite side of the machine is also elevated and partially rotated by means of a crank, if, on the end of the transverse shaft 16 extending across the machine in rear of the butt-board. The connection of thelever uon the right-hand side of the machine with shockturner G being the same as with G the illustration of the latter is deemed sufficient- In Figs. 1 and 5 apron-boards L are seen. These, as seen in Fig. 1, are hinged to the lower edge of the rear top board, L, which extends back over the shock-turners and hangs down while the shock-holder is being filled. By the operation of elevating the shock-turners, chain 0,connected with arm f of the latter, is pulled downward around pulley 0 (seen in dotted lines on the inside of bar b,) and its upper end being connected with a projecting arm, 0, on the top edge of apron-board L, the latter is thereby elevated to a horizontal position, as seen in Fig. 5, which shows the apron-boards broken off. As the boards L are elevated, they press in the top ends of the projectingflat vertical springs 0 on the butt-board,

and when they reach the horizontal position the springs are released and thrown outward under them, thus supporting each one. These apron-boards receive the few stalks which are out before the shock-holder is again connected.

The final operation of releasing the shock and dropping or setting the same may be understood by reference to the several figures. When the shock-holder is thrown up with its inclosed shock, the two sections F and F stand nearly perpendicular, as seen in the dotted lines, Fig. 1, which shows a portion of the shock-holder in dotted lines, and the operator in rear of the machine now seizes the bellcrank lever n and partially rotates it, disengaging the connecting devices on pipe-bars n and a, and the two sections F and F instantly separate, the pivoted hook j on pipe-bar n being released. The pull of chain m on the point of hook p throws up the loop-arm p of the latter, as seen in dotted lines in detail N, and is released therefrom. Hook p and its chain 19* are now thrown back onto section F by the reaction of spring-wire p, and

the two sections of the shock-holder, now being clear of the shock, which is dropped up right, are again lowered and connected, the apron-boards L swung down to the position seen in Fig. 1, and the operation of cutting the corn and filling the shock-holder repeated as before.

To let the frame B down, and to adjust it for cutting the corn at different heights, it is provided with the toothed rack w, (seen in Fig. 10,) which, with the other parts, forms the device K. The rack is of segmental shape, and stands vertically between rails 12 and I) on each side of the frame, to which its ends are fastened. The rack is in front of the axle, and its teeth are engaged by a fixed pinion, w, on the latter, which is held thereto by a curved guard-bar, in rear of the axle and parallel with the rack, and is secured to the latter at its top end and to the rail 12 at the lower end. The frame is lowered by its own gravity, the axle w rotating in its bearings and causingthe pinion w to traverse the rack.

To elevate the frame, a chain, w around a drum-pulley, w, in the middle of the axle,

Fig. 5, leads from the under side of said pulley forward in the central longitudinal line of the machine between rails I to the short transverse shaft J, pivoted in bearings on the under side of the latter'in rear of the truck B. Shaft J is composed of an inner shaft, y, and an outer hollow shaft, y, as seen in the View Fig. 8. It is operated by a hand-lever, y which is looselypivoted to theinner shaft, 3 on the right-hand end between the outer notched Wheel, 8, on the end of the same shaft, Q and the notched wheel w on the end of the outer shaft, 3 As seen in Fig. 9, this lever has a slot, y, therein, which allows it to be raised endwise, so as to disengage a fixed lug, on its inner side from notches in wheel '10 on the outer shaft. WVhen it is thus raised and disengaged from wheel 10, it can be engaged with 'wheel 8 of the shaft y by means of latch-rod y which is operated by pressing its latch y when grasping the lever. To elevate the frame and its mechanism, the hand-lever 1 is down, with its lug y in a notch in wheel w, and it is thrown backward, winding chain 10 onto shaft 3 from the under side, rotating axle w and its pinion w rearward, unwinding chain 10 from off pulley w" as the axle is rotated.

To retain the frame at any desired height, a latchrod, w, (seen on the right hand of bars I, Figs. 5 and 7,) engages a notch in wheel 10 on this end of the hollow shaft y. In Fig. 7 this wheel is not seen, being on the inner side of lever y. Latch-rod w extends back from a foot-lever, w, (seen pivoted at the forward end of the bars I on the right-hand side,) and its top or treadle end extends up through the foot-board M at the right-hand end of the latter. To tilt the frame, apair of jointed levers, z and 2', connect the front end of the inner guide way-bar, b,with each end of the inner shaft, 3 lever 2 being rigidly fastened to the shaft and lever z secured in the same manner to the end of bar I). These bars are short and about the same length and pivoted at their connecting ends. \Vhen desired to tilt the frame either up or down, the lever is disengaged from the outer shaft by raising it up, as before stated, latch-rod y engaged with a notch in wheel 8, and at the same time latchrod 10, on the opposite side of bars I, is disengaged from wheel 9 on the left-han'l end of shaft y, and lever 1/ thrown either backward or forward, as required, the adjustment being retained by the engagement of latch-rod 10 with the wheel 9, the disengagement of the latter being performed by foot-lever 11 in the same manner as that of the latch-rod w.

The driver can manipulate both the handlever and foot-levers easily from his position on seat I) over the truck B on the front end of the coupling-bars I.

The chain elevators have a link with a screwbolt, 6, cast integral therewith, as seen in Fig. 20, by which the carriers e are fastened to the chain. In the view shown the top part ofe is threaded internally, and a rou lid-headed screw engaging therewith secures the end of the bar thereon,which latter is bored through for the purpose and slipped over it.

I claim as my invention 1. In a corn-harvester, a cutting apparatus consisting of the rotary segmental knives with eccentric cutting-edges, said knives being secured upon a pivoted horizontal disk, a fixed knife extended across the latter, with which said rotary knives engage, and a guide-bar at tached to the guideway-rail and extending thereform in line with said fixed knife and overlapping the same, as set forth.

2. In a cutting apparatus for a corn-harvester, a rotary disk, a pair of segmental knives thereon, their upper or cutting edges in the same plane therewith, and a stationary knife extending across the same at an angle of about forty-five degrees to the line of the guideway, the edges of said rotary knives being eccentric to the peripheral line of the disk, for the purpose set forth.

3. In a cutting apparatus for a corn-harvester, the segmental rotary knives with the front or entering angles of their blades rounded, and the lines of the cutting-edges being eccentric to their center of rotation, in combination with a stationary knife extending obliquely forward across the top surface of said rotary knives, and a guide-bar in line with said stationary knife and lapping onto the point of the same, as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

4:. In a cutting apparatus fora cornharvester, the eccentric segmental knives to a, disk a, the oblique stationary knife Z), extending forward from the guide-rail at an angle of about forty-five degrees, and the guide-bar b as and for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination, with the fixed and movable framesections of the cutting apparatus, the endless-chain carriers, and spiral reels, of the system of gearing, the main drivewheels, and pivoted truck, arranged and operated as set forth.

6. In a corn-harvester, the combination of a cutting apparatus consisting of the fixed and the rotary knives, elevating devices consisting of endless-chain belts with toothed carrier-bars thereon, and the shocking devices consisting of pivoted separable frames provided with devices for compressing and ro tating the shock, releasing and dropping the same, and means n connection with the frame and the several operative devices thereon for regulating the height of the cut and the distance through which the shock is dropped to the ground.

7. In a corn harvester, the longitudinal coupling-rails, the pivoted truck, the main drive-wheels provided with spur-gears, the cutting apparatus, the elevating and shocking devices, and the system of gearing connecting said drivewheels with said cutting and elcvating devices, and operated as set forth.

8. In a corn-harvester, the combination of cut-ting, elevating, and shocking devices, all being supported and operated upon a movable frame, provided with means for raising and lowering and tilting the same to regulate the cut and the height from which the shock is dropped to the ground. 120

9. In a cornharvester, the combination, with the main frame, the adjustable frame, the vertical toothed rack-bars, and guards attached thereto, of the rotary axle provided with pinions engaging said rack-bars and having a windingdrum thereon, the hollow shaft and inclosed solid shaft journaled in the main frame and provided with the notched wheels, the jointed levers connecting said adjustable frame with the said solid shaft, the chain connecting the winding-drum of the axle with the said hollow shaft, and a hand-lever pivoted on said solid shaft having an endwise movement, and provided with a lug and latch-rod engaging said notched wheels, to raise and lower and secure the frame, as set forth.

10. In combination, the main axle having pinions and a winding -drum thereon, the drive-wheels rotating on said axle, the longi tudinal coupling rails having bearings in which the axle may be rotated, the truck supporting the front ends of the coupling-rails, the pivotally-suspended frame provided with vertical toothed racks engaging said pinions, guards attached to said racks and frame to retain said racks and pinions in engagement, a transverse hollow shaft containing a solid shaft and journaled on said coupling-rails, a chain connecting said hollow shaft and said winding-drum on the axle, and an adjustable pivoted hand-lever adapted to operate the hollow shaft and its connections to raise and lower the frame and to operate the inside shaft to tilt the frame, as set forth.

11. In a corn-harvcster, the combination, with the system of cutting, elevating, and shocking devices and means for operating the same, ofthe adjustable frame, means for pivotally suspending said frame at the front end, means for supporting it adj ustabl y at the rear end, and means for raising, lowering, and

tilting the same, as set forth.

12. In a corn-harvester, the combination of a stationary frame, an adjustableframe carrying the devices for cutting, elevating, and shocking the corn, atransverse shaftjournaled on the front of the stationary frame, a handlever adj ustably pivoted on said shaft and adapted to be operated from the drivers seat, and means connected therewith by which the adjustable frame may be raised, lowered, and tilted, as set forth.

13. In a corn-harvester, the combination of the longitudinal bed-rails, the axle, the bearings on the rear ends of said bed-rails for said axle, the drive-wheels rotating on said axle, the pivoted truck supporting the front ends of saidbedrails, the adjustable frame, and the adjustably-pivoted hand-lever and its auxiliary connections operated thereby, as described, whereby said frame may be raised, lowered, and tilted from the drivers seat.

14. In a corn'harvester, the combination of thebed-frame consisting-of the longitudinal coupling-rails extending from endto end of the machine, bearings on the rear ends (on the under side) of said coupling-rails, an axle adapted to rotate in said bearings and provided with pinions and a winding-drum,drive-wheels rotating on the ends of said axle, a pivoted truck supporting the front ends of said coupling-rails, an adjustable frame having guideway-rails [at the front and provided with racks intermediate its side bars engaging said pinions and supporting the rear end of said adjustable frame, a transverse shaft on said coupling-rails, jointed levers connecting the inner guideway-rails with the ends of said transverse shaft, a chain connecting thelatter with the drum on said axle in the centrallongitudinal line of the machine, a hand-lever pivotally attached to said shaft, and means connected therewith for raising and lowering said adj ustableframe for tilting the same and for adjusting it at any desired height or angle in cutting the corn, as set forth.

15. In combination, guideway O, guide-rail b, knives a a, the fixed knife I), angle-plate c, and brace b, as and for the purpose set forth.

16. In combination, the guideway G, having rails 12 and b, the rotary knives a a, the fixed knife I), and the guide-bar I), as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

17. In combination with the cutting and elevating devices and the main drive-gears f, pinions f, shafts c", sprocket wheels 6, chain belts e, and sprocket-wheels e connect ing said main drive-gears with said cutting and elevating devices, whereby both are simultaneously operated, as set forth.

1.8. In a corn-harvester, the combination of the two longitudinal coupling-rails, the pivoted truck, the main drive-wheels provided with spur-gears attached to the hubs of the same, the axle having the fixed pinions thereon, the pivotally-suspended adjustable frame provided with toothed racks and jointed leveuconnections, the pivoted adjustable handlever, the auxiliary connectingdevices of said hand-lever, axle,and frame, whereby said handlever is adapted to perform the double function of vertically adjusting and tilting said frame, and the foot-levers by which said frame and its cutting apparatus and shocking devices are retained at the proper height and angle when adjusted, as set forth.

19. In a corn-harvester, a movable frame carrying the cutting, elevating, and shocking devices thereon, and pivotally suspended at the front end by jointed levers, and at its rear end by racks and pinions, in combination with means connected to said supporting devices, whereby said frame is vertically adjusted, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.

20. In a corn-harvester, the combination of an adjustable frame and mechanism for adjusting said frame, consisting of a compound shaft in two sections, one section being a hollow shaft having a notched wheel on one end, a solid shaft extending through and journaled in said hollow shaft, provided with a notched wheel on each end, an adjusting hand-lever pivotally attached to the inside shaft between the notched wheel on the latter and the notched wheel on the outside shaft, and provided with a fixed lug engaging the notches of the latter inner wheel, and a latch-rod adapted to engage the notches of the outer wheel, and mechanism, as described, connecting said frame and said shafts, substantially as set forth.

21. In a devicefor operatingthe adjustable frame of a corn-harvester to raise, lower, or tilt the same, the combination of the hollow shaft, the solid shaft passing through the hollow shaft, a toothed wheel on one end of the hollow shaft, a toothed wheel on each end of the inside shaft, a hand-lever pivoted between a toothed wheel of the inside shaft and the IIO "toothed wheel of the outside shaft, and having a lateral movement, means attached to said lever for engaging the toothed wheel on each side of the same, intermediate devices to operate the said frame, the foot-levers, and the latch-rods connected with the latterone on each side of the bed-rails-and adapted to be operated to engage the toothed wheel of each shaft, as and for the purpose set forth.

22. In a corn-harvester, the combination, with the adjustable frame, of the guidewayrails having outwardly-curved front ends, the cutting apparatus consisting of the rotary segmental knives and the fixed oblique knife, the guide-bar adapted to guide the stalks to said cutting apparatus, the chain belts and toothed carrier-bars, the spiral reels, and means for operating the same, whereby the stalks are guided to the knives, cut, and elevated, as set forth.

23. In a corn-harvester, the combination, with the adjustable frame, of the guidewayrails having ontwardlycurved front ends, the cutting apparatus consisting of the horizontal rotary knives and a fixed oblique knife, said knives being attached to the inner guidewayrail a guide-bar attached to the outer guideway rail extending rearward in line with said fixed k nife,the endless-chain belts and toothed carrier-bars, the spiral reels, the system of driving mechanism foroperating the same, and the shocking devices consisting of a shock-holder in two sections for receiving the cut corn, compressiugdevices, and aspring-frame, means for detaching saidcompressing devices, and mechanism for rotating the shock and releasing and tying the same, the apron-boards L, hinged at one edge to the rear top boards, L, over said holder, and devices for rotating the shock adapted also to elevate the said apron-boards, substantially as set forth.

25. In combination, the hinged apronboards L, provided with the projecting arm 0, the chains 0", the pulleys 0, the shockturners G and G, the transverse shaft connecting the latter, the long rod-levers, the sprocket-wheels and chain belts, and the crankdever and its attachments adapted to operate said shock-burners, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

26. In ashocking device for corn-harvest ers, the combination of the hinged separable frames provided with automatic latching dc vices, the pivoted shock-turners, the transverse shaft having a sprocket-wheel at one end and cranklever at the other, the long jointed levers, chain-gearing, and the pivoted crank-lever provided with pawls and adapted to engage alternately with the ratchetwhecls on the opposite sides of the same, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

27. In a shocking device for corn-harvesters, the combination of pivoted separable frames provided with automatic latching devices, chainclamps provided with a hook, means for disengaging the same, a springframe, the winding-drum, the pivoted cranklever, the ratchet-wheels, and the pawls adapted to engage the latter when operated, substantiall y as set forth.

28. In a corn-harvester, the combination of the shock-turner pivoted at the rear of the machineone on each side-a shock-holder composed of two pivoted separable rectangular frames suspended from said shock-turner frame, latching devices to connect said frames, the compressing devices, and a crank-lever pivotally attached to the shaft of one of said shock-turners and provided with loosely-pivoted pawls-one on each sideadapted to engage alternately with a fixed and a loose ratchet-wheel when the lever is rotated in opposite directions, said lever being adapted to operate the compressing devices when rotated in one direction, and to operate the shockturning devices when rotated in the opposite direction, as set forth.

29. In a cornharvester, the combination of the two aprolrboards, the two pivoted rectangular shock -holder frames, shock-turner frames pivoted one to each side of the frame of the machine, from which said frames the shock-holder frames are suspended, automatic latching devices to connect the frames, means for releasing the same, compressing-chains provided with a hook, a spring-frame adapted to disengage the latter, and a crank-lever provided with aloosely-pivoted pawl 011 each side, one of said pawls adapted to engage a ratchetwheel on one side of said lever to operate the compressing-chains, and the other pawl adapted to engage the ratchet-wheel on the other side of said lever (when the latter is rotated in the opposite direction) to operate the devices for rotating the shock and for elevat ing the apron-boards, as set forth.

30. In ashocking device, the combination,

with the shock-turner G, of the compressing devices, the chain 112?, the shaft r, drum r, crank-lever 1), provided with the loosely-pivoted pawl 12, ratchet-wheel a, pawl rd, and ratchet-wheel 1", whereby the chain m is wound up and the compressing devices operated, as set forth.

31. In a shocking device, the combination of the pivoted separable frames F and F provided with automatic latching devices, the compressing devices, the pivoted shoek-turners G and G, the transverse shaft M the long jointed levers u, sprocket-wheels a and a, chain belt S crank-lever 1), having pawl 22", and ratchet wheel u, formed in one piece with the sprocketwhee]. a, whereby the shock is rotated and dropped in an erect position, as set forth.

32. The combination, with the shock-holder and the auxiliarydevices described, of a single crank-lever and means connected therewith whereby the shock is compressed when said ITO lever is operated from'right to left, and is roshock, and means for rotating the same'and IO tated to an erect position for dropping when for releasing said shock and dropping it erect said lever is operated from left to right, as set upon the ground, as set forth.

forth. In testimony whereof I affix my signature in 33. The combination, with the adjustable presence of two Witnesses.

frame and means for raising, lowering, and JOHN I. WOLF.

tilting the same, of a shocking device consist- Witnesses:

ing of a shock-holder having two separable B. G. OoNvERsE,

pivoted frames, devices for compressing the \V. H. NAGEL. 

